ACP - Boeing Dinner at Shanghai World Expo - USA Pavilion
With the world’s attention focusing on the Shanghai Expo, ACP and Boeing co-hosted a dinner for our Chinese colleagues in Shanghai and for EMDT and ATMET graduates. The dinner at the USA Pavilion on June 13 included more than 100 guests from CAAC Headquarters, CAAC East China, ATMB East China, US Consulate Shanghai, US Embassy Beijing, FAA, China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, COMAC, EMDT and ATMET graduates, as well as ACP member companies.
ACP Co-chairman David Wang opened the dinner and briefly reviewed the past six years of cooperation between the two sides. David spoke highly of major achievements over the years and expressed his appreciation for CAAC strong support. He was very happy to have graduates from EMDT and ATMET gathered in Shanghai. David introduced Shen Zejiang, Director General of CAAC East China Regional Administration.
DG Shen congratulated ACP’s success on programs including executive and professional training, air traffic management, aviation safety, airworthiness certification, general aviation, airport management, emission reduction and energy conservation. He said these helped improve the development of air safety, capacity, and efficiency of the two countries. ACP has proved to be a successful model of cooperation and will continue to help both sides.
DG Shen also pointed out that more efforts should be put on flight safety in the cooperation between the two countries. Recently, CAAC Administrator Li Jiaxiang proposed a new strategy for construction and development of China’s civil aviation industry. Under this strategy, China and the US will achieve a win-win situation by further enhancing exchanges and cooperation in the area of aviation safety and operation, policy management, as well as technology. DG Shen ended his speech by toasting for sustainable development and success of ACP.
Chris Beede, Deputy Principle Officer of the US Consulate Shanghai spoke on behalf of the US side. He conveyed special thanks to all the ACP member companies, the US Pavilion, and AmCham for their contributions and cooperation to make this event possible.
Deputy Director General Yang Shengjun of the CAAC Personnel and Education Department summarized ACP’s training programs during the past six years. Starting in 2004, many programs have been initiated by ACP. So far, EMDT has completed four sessions. ATMET was started in 2008 and ATMET 2009 is in progress in the US right now. Over 160 participants were involved in all these training classes. Today more than 60 graduates came to this dinner. EMDT and ATMET have grown to be a excellent training programs and have the attention of top leaders of both sides. Now EMDT 5 is in final preparation and ATMET 2 is underway. DG Yang believed more achievements will be made in the future.
FAA North Asia Representative - and ACP Co-chairman - Pat Power traced the aviation cooperation between the two countries back to 1924, when four
Douglas-built open-cockpit biplanes took off from the US to attempt the first flight around the world. When the seaplanes approached to land on the river in Shanghai, hundreds of boats gathered to welcome them and blocked the river. The pilots feared there would be no clear area to land. But the Chinese government had cleared an area of the river and the planes landed safely. Many things in aviation have changed with the passage of time, but cooperation between the US and China still continues. Pat proposed toast for everyone.
After the dinner a sightseeing tour of the USA Pavilion was organized for all guests.